diff --git a/src/basic/process-util.c b/src/basic/process-util.c
index fce96dd5eb..38df34e339 100644
--- a/src/basic/process-util.c
+++ b/src/basic/process-util.c
@@ -1624,8 +1624,6 @@ _noreturn_ void freeze(void) {
         /* Make sure nobody waits for us on a socket anymore */
         (void) close_all_fds_full(NULL, 0, false);
 
-        sync();
-
         /* Let's not freeze right away, but keep reaping zombies. */
         for (;;) {
                 siginfo_t si = {};
diff --git a/src/core/main.c b/src/core/main.c
index 6e01398523..129f340f6e 100644
--- a/src/core/main.c
+++ b/src/core/main.c
@@ -222,6 +222,7 @@ _noreturn_ static void freeze_or_exit_or_reboot(void) {
         }
 
         log_emergency("Freezing execution.");
+        sync();
         freeze();
 }